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2y agoSTEPHEN ASTARIKOCounties
Residents of Garissa can breathe a sigh of relief after health workers called off their strike after engaging in talks with Governor Nathif Jama.
Among the issues that the nurses, laboratory officers and clinical officers want addressed include lack of promotions, lack of re-designations for those who completed higher education and absence of leave and uniform allowances.
However, speaking after the meeting with the union officials in his Garissa office on Tuesday, Jama reassured the healthcare workers of his commitment to address entire grievances in 90 days.
He said some of the issues raised would be addressed immediately, while others would be implemented following a supplementary budget submission to the county assembly.
“Healthcare services are an area we cannot ignore; they are essential, and I will give my full attention to prioritize the needs of the workers and health infrastructure,” the governor said.
“During the campaigns two years ago, I together with my deputy promised among other things to fix the health care sector that had been completely run down. And I can confidently say that we are on the right track.”
Officials from the Workers’ Union Branch said they decided to call off the strike after a meeting with the governor where they were assured that all their grievances would be addressed.
Diriye Ismail, the Garissa branch secretary for the Kenya Union of Nurses and Midwives, said they had presented their concerns, most of which centered on human resource issues.
“The basis for the strike was the lack of promotions, lack of redesignations for those who completed higher education and absence of leave and uniform allowances,” he said.
Lawi Mwagome, the branch secretary for laboratory officers, also confirmed that they called off the strike after a successful negotiation meeting with the governor.
“The governor promised to immediately begin addressing the issues we presented, and as agreed, all our grievances will be resolved within 90 days,” he said.
Dertu MCA Aden Hassan, who is the chairman of Assembly Health Committee, assured healthcare workers that the assembly would actively perform its oversight role to ensure the executive addresses the concerns raised.
